Skirt.



W. PADERNAGHT.

SKIRT. APPLIOATION FILED $11112, 1909.

Patented Ju1y27, 1909. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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Patented July 27,

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE.

WILLIAM PADERNAOHT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIG-NOR TO ANNA PADERNACHT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SKIRT.

Specification oi Letters Patent.

Patented July 27,1909.

Application filed January 12, 1909. Serial No.-4-.71,915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, W'ILLIAM PADERNACHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skirts, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in skirts, and while capable of embodiment in skirts of other types, is particularly designed for use in connection with those skirts commonly known as washable skirts.

Ordinarily, skirts of the washable type, are continuous around the lower portion thereof and open for only a short depth in the back to constitute the usual placket opening, said placket being usually provided with hooks and eyes for closing the same. Considerable difficulty is encountered in the washing, and more especially in the ironing, of a skirt of this character, and the hooks and eyes, by reason of the rusting thereof, very frequently stain the garment and spoil the neat and clean appearance thereof.

The present invention has for its object the provision of a divided skirt having the line of division at the back of the same extending entirely from the bottom to the top thereof whereby the skirt when being washed and ironed may be opened into a flat condition after the manner of an apron.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means hidden from view when in use, for securing the skirt together throughout the greater portion of its length, which, when properly adjusted, enables the use of the upper portion of the divided part of the skirt as a placket in the ordinary way. The placket is in turn specially formed, and furnished with novel securing means, which will effectually prevent accidental opening of the same, and thus overcome the many disadvantages incident to the use of the usual hooks and eyes, spring ball fasteners, etc.

Other novel characteristics of the invention include a special relative arrangement of the means for securing the placket in closed condition and the means for securing the lower portion of the skirt in closed condition; also means for securing buttons to the skirt so that each button will have a sub stantial play or freedom of movement in a lateral direction, or may be readily turned over edgewise to permit thorough ironing of the fabric; and further, the provision of strips carrying the proper number and relative arrangement of securing devices, conveniently buttons and buttonv holes, for securing a divided skirt together, and which strips may be easily stitched in place on the body of the skirt.

All of the foregoing, and other novel details in the construction and arrangement of parts, will be apparent'fi 'om the detailed de scription hereinafter contained, when read in connection with the'accompanying drawings'; forming part hereof, and wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings, Figure l is a rear elevation of the skirt in open or flat condition. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the skirt in partly closed and partly open condition, the placket being shown entirely open. Fig. .3 is a cross sectional view through the placket. Fig. 4: is a similar view through the lower portion of the skirt. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of one of the buttons and F i 's. 6 and v 7 are elevations of detached complementary strips constituting closing means for the skirt.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, wherein likereference letters designate corresponding parts in the several views, A represents the body of a washable skirt, the same being formed for instance of duck. This body is provided with a divided or slitted back represented at B, the division ext-ending the full length of the skirt as shown in Fig. 1. In washing or ironing the skirt, it is designed-that the same be entirely opened,-similar to an apron, into the flat condition indicated in said Fig. 1, but when the skirt is in use it is intended that the greater portion of the divided part thereof shall be closed whereby to leave but the usual depth placket opening B at the top of the skirt as indicated in-Fig. 2.

The under fold or edge of the skirt is represented at C and for the greater portion of its length is provided 'with'vertically disposed button-holes D designed to receive inwardly-projecting buttons E on the outer fold or edge F of the body. From this arrangement, it will be observed that when the lower portion of the skirt is properly buttoned, said buttons will underlie the under fold or edge C of the body and be entirely hidden from view, whereby the skirt will present the same appearance as the ordinary singlepiece or permanently stitched formation, better appreciated from an inspection of Fig. 2. The upper or placket portion of the division indicated at B is closed through the medium of buttons H projecting outwardly from the under fold C above the button-holes therein, and button-holes I in the outer fold above the inwardly projecting buttons thereon, the buttons in this instance being hidden from view by a plait J. A plait J on the under fold arranged to meet the plait I just referred to imparts the desired neat or finished appearance to the placket and skirt when closed. Owing to the relatively reverse arrangement of the but tons and button holes constituting the two series of fastening devices, there is a clear demarcation between the termination of the placket opening and the commencement of the lower or main body portion of the skirt Thus, the wearer, although unable to see the placket when opening the same, has tangibly appreciable means indicating when the placket has been unfastened to its full extent, namely the top button of the lower series which, being disposed differently from the buttons of the placket will be instantly recognized upon the touch of the user. By this means the major portion of the skirt when once buttoned, after laundrying, may remain permanently intact until the skirt is again to be washed and thus the skirt when in actual use, is used in the customary manner, the same as if the body was continuous.

The ends of the waistband L are connected bymeans of buttons M and buttonholes M.

N and 0 respectively, indicate strips of fabric provided with the buttons and buttonholes, arranged as above described, adapted for attachment to the edges of a divided skirt body. These strips'per so, however, will not be specially claimed herein inasmuch as they constitute the subject matter for an additional application.

In attaching the buttons, either directly to the edges of the skirt or to the strips which are designed to be subsequently stitched to said edges, I employ pieces of tape]? stitched between layers Q, and R and having loops S extending outwardly from the edges of said layers toward the placket opening to engage the buttons as shown in Fig. 6, the buttons being tied in place as at T, and the loop being of a substantial length so that considerable lateral play or freedom is permitted the button, whereby the same may be turned edgewise, to permit the cloth to be thoroughly ironed entirely around and beneath the button. By having the loops of the tapes project toward the edge of that portion of the skirt to which the buttons are secured, it will be seen that when the skirt is buttoned any strain on the loops is by a straight pull,

and consequently there is no tendency to pull outwardly upon and rip off the layer which overlies and is stitched to the tape.

IVhile I have herein disclosed one specific embodiment of my invention, it is obvious that the invention may be embodied in other ways without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. In a dress skirt, a body portion continuous save at its back where it is divided for its full length to open into apron-like form, and concealed means for securing the edges of said body together to impart thereto the ap pearance of being continuous throughout.

2; In a skirt, a body portion divided at its back whereby to open for the full length thereof, means for securing'the lower portions of the skirt together, other means for securing the upper portion or placket in closed condition, and tangibly appreciable means constituting a demarcation between the placket opening and the lower portion of the skirt, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3'. In a skirt, a body portion divided at its back whereby to open for its full length, means for closing the placket portion and means for securing that portion below the placket in closed condition including inwardly projecting buttons at the edge of the outer fold of the body adapted to engage complementary button-holes at the edge of the inner fold thereof to impart to the body the appearance of being continuous throughout.

4-. In a skirt, a body portion divided at its back whereby to open for its full length, and

ans for securing the same in closed condition including inwardly projecting buttons at the edge of the outer fold of the body adapted to engage complementary buttonholes at the edge of the inner fold thereof, and means for closing the upper portion or placket of the skirt including buttons projecting outwardly from the edge of the inner fold and complementary button holes in the edge of the outer fold.

In a skirt, a body portion divided at its back whereby to open for its full length, and means for securing the same in closed condition including inwardly projecting buttons at the edge of the outer fold of the body adapted to engage complementary button-holes at the edge of the inner fold thereof, and means for closing the upper portion or placket of the skirt including buttons projecting outwardly from the edge of the inner fold and complen'ientary button-holes in the edge of the outer fold, in combination with means for concealing said last mentioned buttons when the skirt is in use.

6. In a dress skirt, a body portion continuous save at its back where it is divided for its full length to open into apron-like form, and

concealed means for securing the edges of the lower portion of said body together to impart thereto the appearance of being continuous.

7. In a skirt, means for closing the placket comprising a series of buttons secured to the under fold adapted to engage complementary button-holes in the outer fold and means for concealing the buttons when the placket is closed, said means for securing the buttons in place including a tape having a loop engaging each button and said tape being secured to the under fold whereby the loop projects outwardly toward the edge of the skirt.

8. In a skirt, means for closing the placket comprising a series of buttons secured to the under fold adapted to engage complementary button-holes in the outer fold, and a plait for concealing the buttons when the placket is closed, said means for securing the buttons in place including a tape having a loop engaging each button and said tape being secured to the under fold whereby the loop projects outwardly toward the edge of the skirt.

9. In a skirt, means for closing the placket comprising a series of buttons secured to the under fold adapted to engage complementary buttonholes in the outer fold, and a plait for concealing the buttons when the placket is closed, said means for securing the buttons in place including a tape having a loop engaging each button and said tape being secured to the under fold whereby the loop projects outwardly toward the edge of the skirt and an oppositely arranged plait meeting said first named plait.

10. In a garment provided with an open portion enabling the same to be adjusted to the user, means for closing said opening including a series of buttons and complementary button-holes at the .edges to be connected, the means for securing the buttons in place comprising a tape having a loop to ei'igage each button, and said tape being secured whereby the loop projects toward the edge of that portion of the garment to which it is attached.

11. In a garment provided with an open portion enabling the same, to be adjusted to the user, means for closing said opening including a series of buttons and complementary button-holes at the edges to be con nected, the means for securing the buttons in place comprising a tape having a loop to engage each button, and said tape being tied beneath the button and secured whereby the loop projects toward the-edge of that portion of the garment to which it is attached.

12. In a skirt, means for closing the placket comprising a series of buttons secured to the under fold in a manner to have a substantial freedom of movement edgewise and adapted to engage complementary buttonholes in the outer fold, and means for concealing the buttons and the securing means therefor when the placketis closed.

18. In a garment provided with an open portion enabling the same to be fitted to the user, means for closing said opening comprising buttons and complementary button holes at the edges to be connected, the means for securing the buttons in place'comprising tape loops engaging the buttons, and said loops being tied beneath the buttons.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of-two witnesses.

WILLIAM PADERNACHT.

l Vitnesses J os. H. MILANs, G. A. MARVIN. 

